10 Halloween Candy Recipes That Put Candy Corn to Shame

Halloween: the only night of the year you have a valid excuse to stuff yourself to the brim with candy. Although we’re huge fans of fun-sized, brightly packaged Halloween treats, this year why not skip the pre-packed stuff in favor of homemade sweets? These 10 DIY versions of decadent, sticky, gooey candies from almond joys to creamy caramels are sure to impress all the ghouls, zombies, superheroes, and Miley Cyruses you’re entertaining.

Thai Peanut Butter Cups. Homemade, grown-up peanut butter cups that put Reese’s to shame with a complex base of Thai flavors. Not-too-sweet and with a hint of spice, you’ll never turn to the store bought stuff again. Get the recipe.

Salted Pumpkin Caramels. The earthy taste of pumpkin softened with cream takes over each chewy bite of these candies, and is followed by a subtle spice and salty crunch from fleur de sel. Toasted pepitas are addictive on their own (make sure to save yourself a handful from the bottom of the dish) and top off the finished caramels. Get the recipe.

Chocolate Swirl Cinnamon Marshmallows. Not only are these marshmallows scented with just the right amounts of cinnamon and chocolate, they’re also seriously fun to make. You simply pour hot sugar syrup into gelatin and let the mixer work its magic, whipping up the marshmallow until it fluffs and gets bouncy. Munch on them plain or toss them in a cup of hot chocolate. Get the recipe.

Ancho Chili Cinnamon Chocolate Bark. A great introduction to chocolate bark, waves of smooth dark chocolate are spiced with smoky ancho, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper, and studded with dried cherries, cashews, and pistachios. The finished product is impressive and takes only 20 minutes to put together, making them the perfect treat for a last minute Halloween party. Get the recipe.

Almond Joy Candy Bars. In 30 minutes, these no-bake, bet-you’d-never-know they are vegan candy bars can be yours to enjoy. Best of all, the process is extremely straight forward and yields creamy, rich, decadent results. Get the recipe.

Homemade Cow Tales. Eight-inch lengths of soft caramel and cream filling is a favorite nostalgic candy whipped up in your kitchen. Get the recipe.

Pine Nut Brittle with Rosemary. The idea of combining pine nuts and rosemary outside of a Tuscan pasta and into a brittle? Groundbreaking. Pine nuts are cloaked in a buttery caramel, and rosemary infuses the brittle with its savory fragrance. A shower of crunchy sea salt is the finishing touch to this sweet, salty, crunchy candy. Get the recipe.

Earl Grey and Vanilla Bean Truffles Two Ways. Dark chocolate takes on a velvety texture with undertones of vanilla and tea, and orange zest adds a citrusy kick to each bite of these decadent truffles Try them with a few crushed pistachios for a rendition of everyone’s favorite sweet/salty combination. Get the recipe.

Caramelized, Crispy Rice Bark. A bark as sweet as its bite? That’s certainly the case here. Toasty, crisp, and crunchy, this candy will snap, crackle, and pop its way into your regular roster of Halloween confections. It’s also ridiculously easy to make, so you can crank out batch after batch for your trick or treaters. Get the recipe.

Homemade Tootsie Rolls. Homemade tootsie rolls with no cooking required and made from ingredients we already have in our pantry? Sign us up. Get the recipe.